​Students grades K- 2 receive Music and the Brain (MATB) keyboard instruction ones or twice a week. Throughout the school year students learn basic musical concepts and gain understanding of the music notation. Kids are encouraged to discover and analyze different songs by studying the poster sized written notation. Lessons include such activities as finger exercises, singing , movement, ear training, pattern recognition, discussion of song form, place of origin, and genre. Our goal is to teach students to be attentive listeners and to promote their musicianship.For more information please visit: Music and the Brain​The 3-5 music program is designed to reinforce the concepts learned in primary grades and to create a foundation for additional music study as children progress to middle school. Performing, composing, improvising, and listening are supported by discussion and reflection to enhance musical understanding. Students are exposed to digital sounds through working with midi- keyboards in a music computer lab. They learn different computer applications to explore, record, edit, and produce music. In addition to participating in general music class, students have the opportunity to begin band, choral, or small instrumental ensemble music studies.

The essential part of the upper grade classes’ music curriculum is Little Kids Rock program that provides the opportunity for our students to learn about popular musical styles such as blues, rock, reggae, hip-hop and more. Kids are also taught how to compose and record their own original music. The music instructions are presented in an aural-visual format that enhances students’ success in recognizing the music selections and understanding musical theory and history.

Our school has developed a long term partnership with ArtsConnections, the program that has been integral to our success in school residencies, performances, family events and after school programs. Teaching artists from ArtsConnections provide high quality musical instructions for selected students from 3-5 grades to create arts-rich environments that bring authenticity, depth and cultural diversity to the experience of our students.

Music programs mentioned above enhance the general music curriculum and provide the opportunity for special experiences designed for gifted and talented students from Javits and Soar classes. Music instruction K-5 for gifted and talented classes includes at least two of the following instructions: fretted instruments, keyboard instruments, percussion instruments, electronic instruments, instruments representing various cultures, chorus or small ensemble.